Hi
Today i observed a Curlew sandpiper on the beach at
Point Cook with one leg missing and the other leg
broken at the first joint. On the broken leg was an
orange flag. It was a pittiful sight and got me
thinking about a recent message enquiring about the
decline of Curlew Sandpiper speculating if it was due
to a breeding crash.
The recent decline of Curlew Sandpiper is certainly
due in part to losses caused by bird banding,
particularly leg flagging. More than 50,000 Curlew
Sandpipers have been banded and leg flagged in the
past few years. The figures and statistics show that
this number (50,000+) is a sizable percentage of the
Australian visiting population of Curlew Sandpipers
and the recent decline correlates with the numbers of
birds banded.
At the end of each Australian summer, Curlew
Sandpipers are seen frequenting inter tidal estuarine
habitats coastal swamps and also inland lakes and
swamps across Australia. When one takes a close look
at these birds it can be seen that many have been
recently leg flagged. But when the waders return here
the following season, very few leg flagged curlew
sandpipers are to be found. It appears that most of
them die resulting from the bands and leg flags which
are clearly too much for these small birds to carry
through their migration.
Recently banded individuals can be identified by a
shiny untarnished appearance of any metal bands
present and also the relatively fresh appearance of
the plastic leg flags. Some Curlew Sandpipers are
manacled with four or more bands and flags. Rarely
does one ever see a Curlew Sandpiper with an aged leg
flag attached indicating that they meet their peril
soon after banding.
To those defending the undefendable, tell us please,
where are the missing 50,000+ leg flagged Curlew
Sandpipers and heaven knows how many other missing
small leg flagged waders such as Red-necked Stints,
Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Knots. Just tell us, where
are all these missing small waders now.
The uncaring approach to this type of migratory wader
research must be questioned. Much catching, banding
and leg flagging is done without demonstrating any
genuine consideration for the potential harm that can
be caused. An almost unbelievable example of this is
published on one of the banding websites.
The site states that a number of Red-necked Phalaropes
were leg flagged and banded in the NW of Australia
recently.
Now a person who has any genuine concern based on even
the slightest understanding of a phalaropes pelagic
life history and their need for unencumbered movement
while swimming in predator rich seas would not
reasonably make a decision to leg flag such birds. It
would be obvious that the large brightly coloured leg
flags would impede swimming movement and also act as a
lure to attract predator fish. But these maniac
researchers did band them, apparently as many as they
could catch, and for what reason you may ask? Because
it seems, it was just one more rare bird for their
expedition banded bird list. Intrinsic reasons, not
scientific. Thats why.
If any pro banders are going to attack me for this
message, please do try and refrain from the usual
sycophantic character references about some of the
maniacs involved in bird banding. We only have to look
at the currency of people like Lord Geofory Archer to
know where that will lead to. What many of us want to
know is when will the amateur banding and leg flagging
small migratory waders stop.
Cheers
Kym Bennet
Carnegie, Victoria
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